Argentina
Argentina
Hi there
Has anyone ever been to Argentina - if so would love to hear about it?
My fiance and I are planning on going there for our honeymoon in April 07.
Any recommendations on what to see or where to stay would be most welcome!
thanks
Y
Answers:
Buenos Aires! It's a wonderful, wonderful place. People really do tango in the streets on Sundays! The food is incredible, people are really friendly adn there's a great vibe.
Be a little careful though because Argentina went through a total economic crash a few years ago, and was a little off the tourist map because of it. I've not heard anything in the news recently so I'm sure it's OK now, but might be worth asking some questions/researching.
Also, Igauzu falls - not technically in Argentina (I don't think??) but worth seeing. On the border with Brazil and not very far away.
Travelling down through the Pampas to Patagonia is also wonderful with a total landscape and climate change.
Oh yeah - and most people didn't seem to speak any English at all - which surprised me somewhat. I know that's totally ignorant of me but it surprised me! I speak a little Spanish so got by, but be prepared!
Answers:
I was there for 6 weeks in September/October '04.
It was wonderful, definitely my favourite place on my RTW trip. Even despite a bit of trauma along the way...... :)
Spent about 3 weeks in Buenos Aires and the surrounds. Tigre is lovely, about an hour away on the train and absolutely gorgeous, brilliant markets and lovely boat rides back to BA.
BA is up there with New York as my favourite city in the world too. Just so vibrant, tons to do. Go to the Teatro Colon (the theatre) and see something there. Incredibly cheap.
Steaks by the hatful, there's a brilliant place just off the square in San Telmo which was a brilliant experience though not so much if you're veggie cos they eat anything and everything inside or outside of a cow's body! You don't need to though...
San Telmo market on a Sunday is wonderful. Lots of market stalls and lovely cafes overlooking it. Tango dancers there as well, and street performers. Haggling's great fun, especially if you're as bad at Spanish as me! :)
Be careful if you go in any internet cafes there or anywhere else for that matter that you keep your bag in your sight at all times and preferably looped around your ankle. That's where my trauma came in!
Anyway, the cafes are wonderful in BA. Palermo, Recoletta are beautiful areas. Oh all of it is really. I went to the racing one night too which was fab, and went and saw River Plate play Arsenal. (the argentinian version). Very cheap.
Get over to Colonia in Uruguay as well, it's just a couple of hours away by boat and you get another stamp in your passport. Hire a moped or a bike for the day and just enjoy the pretty lanes, scenery and yet more cafes. I loved it there. So chilled out. Aaaand duty free.
Lots of great shopping in BA too, though the sizes are a nightmare even if you're a 10 or a 12 in the UK as the women are tiny in Argentina. I got some great jeans for half the price of here.
The flipside is that they did suffer an economic crash a few years back, but they're wonderful people and I never felt worried.
I also went down to Patagonia, Puerto Madryn, Trelew and Chubut to be precise. Was sooooo cold, it's where the first welsh settlers came into and as you walk along the beach it's bloody freezing. Beautiful skies though.
Went for a traditional welsh tea in Gaiman which is near to Trelew and the tea was incredible. I felt so full.
The highlight was Peninsular Valdes and seeing penguins in the wild less than 5 foot away from me, and even a tame and mischievuous armadillo, plus some seals, and sealions and then the highlight The Whales.
Just wonderful. And absolutely astounding scenery. Lots of places to the north, and when I go back Salta's at the top of my list for horse riding.
Iguazu Falls were amazing. I stayed on the Brazillian side in Foz D'iguacu but the Argentinian side was spectacular and you can go into the Brazillian side just for the day if you want to. You only need half a day for the Brazillian side plus if you fancy birds you can get to the Bird Sanctuary across the road from it. I did a helicopter ride too. AMAZING.
1 day needed for the Argentinian side.
One last thing, the buses over there are incredible. Huge distances to travel but the one I caught from Iguazu Falls to BA was great. We stopped for a three course meal with alcohol, were given sweets throughout the journey, breakfast in the morning, a pillow and blanket and films to watch, plus a brandy for bedtime. And all for £25.00 for a 24 hour journey.
Everyone on the buses were great too, very friendly and us trying to get by in pidgin English and Spanish. That happened on every bus I went on.
Final final thing, if you fancy learning some Spanish in BA. I went to a great school who organise homestays with an Argentinian family too. If you fancy it, PM me and I'll give you their details.
I'll shut up now. Sorry! :)
TB x
Answers:
Wow!! Thanks so much TB & BB, there is loads of info there. It sounds fantastic. We'll definitely go to Uruguay too. We'll probably have only 2 or three weeks there but hopefully will get to see as much as possible.
TB hope you got your bag back - what a horrible thing to happen on holidays.
Neither of us have a word of spanish, so definitely need to get some classes.
Thanks again
Y
Answers:
Just one thing, buses is a fantastic way to go if you've got time and not all journeys will take 24 hours, however planes are just as great to get.
One tip though if you decide to go to Iguazu for instance and then maybe one way to Patagonia by plane, try to get an Aerolinas Argentinas Air Pass or one of the other airlines out there, before you go.
When you're out there, unless you're living with someone and can prove you're more than just a 1 week-er out there, they'll charge you inflated prices for being a tourist. Nothing necessarily wrong with this but it'd make more sense to see if you can save with a airpass bought before you go.
Estudio Buenos Aires was the language school I went with. Brilliant it was, I did it for 2 weeks but picked up loads in a week really, considering I'd not done it before. Otherwise you could do it over here, but bear in mind there are subtle differences between European Spanish and then Castellano (which is the Argentinian Spanish), it's even different in Chile.
And a travel agents if you want to get an idea of flight prices over in Argentina for foreigners is Asatej. I think you can get an english language version of it.
Any probs with finding the sites, give me a yell.
Oh and no didn't get me bag back, had to get a new passport, debit cards and camera. Traumatic at the time, laughing a few days later.
Cheers and have a great time.
Tb xx
Hi there
Has anyone ever been to Argentina - if so would love to hear about it?
My fiance and I are planning on going there for our honeymoon in April 07.
Any recommendations on what to see or where to stay would be most welcome!
thanks
Y
Answers:
Buenos Aires! It's a wonderful, wonderful place. People really do tango in the streets on Sundays! The food is incredible, people are really friendly adn there's a great vibe.
Be a little careful though because Argentina went through a total economic crash a few years ago, and was a little off the tourist map because of it. I've not heard anything in the news recently so I'm sure it's OK now, but might be worth asking some questions/researching.
Also, Igauzu falls - not technically in Argentina (I don't think??) but worth seeing. On the border with Brazil and not very far away.
Travelling down through the Pampas to Patagonia is also wonderful with a total landscape and climate change.
Oh yeah - and most people didn't seem to speak any English at all - which surprised me somewhat. I know that's totally ignorant of me but it surprised me! I speak a little Spanish so got by, but be prepared!
Answers:
I was there for 6 weeks in September/October '04.
It was wonderful, definitely my favourite place on my RTW trip. Even despite a bit of trauma along the way...... :)
Spent about 3 weeks in Buenos Aires and the surrounds. Tigre is lovely, about an hour away on the train and absolutely gorgeous, brilliant markets and lovely boat rides back to BA.
BA is up there with New York as my favourite city in the world too. Just so vibrant, tons to do. Go to the Teatro Colon (the theatre) and see something there. Incredibly cheap.
Steaks by the hatful, there's a brilliant place just off the square in San Telmo which was a brilliant experience though not so much if you're veggie cos they eat anything and everything inside or outside of a cow's body! You don't need to though...
San Telmo market on a Sunday is wonderful. Lots of market stalls and lovely cafes overlooking it. Tango dancers there as well, and street performers. Haggling's great fun, especially if you're as bad at Spanish as me! :)
Be careful if you go in any internet cafes there or anywhere else for that matter that you keep your bag in your sight at all times and preferably looped around your ankle. That's where my trauma came in!
Anyway, the cafes are wonderful in BA. Palermo, Recoletta are beautiful areas. Oh all of it is really. I went to the racing one night too which was fab, and went and saw River Plate play Arsenal. (the argentinian version). Very cheap.
Get over to Colonia in Uruguay as well, it's just a couple of hours away by boat and you get another stamp in your passport. Hire a moped or a bike for the day and just enjoy the pretty lanes, scenery and yet more cafes. I loved it there. So chilled out. Aaaand duty free.
Lots of great shopping in BA too, though the sizes are a nightmare even if you're a 10 or a 12 in the UK as the women are tiny in Argentina. I got some great jeans for half the price of here.
The flipside is that they did suffer an economic crash a few years back, but they're wonderful people and I never felt worried.
I also went down to Patagonia, Puerto Madryn, Trelew and Chubut to be precise. Was sooooo cold, it's where the first welsh settlers came into and as you walk along the beach it's bloody freezing. Beautiful skies though.
Went for a traditional welsh tea in Gaiman which is near to Trelew and the tea was incredible. I felt so full.
The highlight was Peninsular Valdes and seeing penguins in the wild less than 5 foot away from me, and even a tame and mischievuous armadillo, plus some seals, and sealions and then the highlight The Whales.
Just wonderful. And absolutely astounding scenery. Lots of places to the north, and when I go back Salta's at the top of my list for horse riding.
Iguazu Falls were amazing. I stayed on the Brazillian side in Foz D'iguacu but the Argentinian side was spectacular and you can go into the Brazillian side just for the day if you want to. You only need half a day for the Brazillian side plus if you fancy birds you can get to the Bird Sanctuary across the road from it. I did a helicopter ride too. AMAZING.
1 day needed for the Argentinian side.
One last thing, the buses over there are incredible. Huge distances to travel but the one I caught from Iguazu Falls to BA was great. We stopped for a three course meal with alcohol, were given sweets throughout the journey, breakfast in the morning, a pillow and blanket and films to watch, plus a brandy for bedtime. And all for £25.00 for a 24 hour journey.
Everyone on the buses were great too, very friendly and us trying to get by in pidgin English and Spanish. That happened on every bus I went on.
Final final thing, if you fancy learning some Spanish in BA. I went to a great school who organise homestays with an Argentinian family too. If you fancy it, PM me and I'll give you their details.
I'll shut up now. Sorry! :)
TB x
Answers:
Wow!! Thanks so much TB & BB, there is loads of info there. It sounds fantastic. We'll definitely go to Uruguay too. We'll probably have only 2 or three weeks there but hopefully will get to see as much as possible.
TB hope you got your bag back - what a horrible thing to happen on holidays.
Neither of us have a word of spanish, so definitely need to get some classes.
Thanks again
Y
Answers:
Just one thing, buses is a fantastic way to go if you've got time and not all journeys will take 24 hours, however planes are just as great to get.
One tip though if you decide to go to Iguazu for instance and then maybe one way to Patagonia by plane, try to get an Aerolinas Argentinas Air Pass or one of the other airlines out there, before you go.
When you're out there, unless you're living with someone and can prove you're more than just a 1 week-er out there, they'll charge you inflated prices for being a tourist. Nothing necessarily wrong with this but it'd make more sense to see if you can save with a airpass bought before you go.
Estudio Buenos Aires was the language school I went with. Brilliant it was, I did it for 2 weeks but picked up loads in a week really, considering I'd not done it before. Otherwise you could do it over here, but bear in mind there are subtle differences between European Spanish and then Castellano (which is the Argentinian Spanish), it's even different in Chile.
And a travel agents if you want to get an idea of flight prices over in Argentina for foreigners is Asatej. I think you can get an english language version of it.
Any probs with finding the sites, give me a yell.
Oh and no didn't get me bag back, had to get a new passport, debit cards and camera. Traumatic at the time, laughing a few days later.
Cheers and have a great time.
Tb xx